U.S. patent number 6,567,978 [Application Number 09/169,065] was granted by the patent office on 2003-05-20 for television audience monitoring system and method employing display of cable converter box.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ADcom Information Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lester L. Jarrell.
United States Patent |
6,567,978 |
Jarrell |
May 20, 2003 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ( Reexamination Certificate
) ** |
Television audience monitoring system and method employing display
of cable converter box
Abstract
A display interface device and method for determining a
currently tuned-to channel of a set-top converter box having an
electronic display that indicates the currently tuned-to channel
via seven-segment display elements in response to drive signals
provided thereto by the set-top converter device. The display
interface device includes an electrical connection to the
electronic display and a controller. The controller receives the
drive signals over the electrical connection and generates
information representative of the currently tuned-to tuned channel
for use by downstream components. The information representative of
the tuned channel may be output as an ASCII value representative of
the currently tuned-to channel. The display interface may be part
of a viewership metering system when used in conjunction with a
viewership collection meter to determine viewer habits.
Inventors: |
Jarrell; Lester L. (Lakeside,
CA) |
Assignee: |
ADcom Information Services,
Inc. (Deerfield Beach, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
22614136 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/169,065 |
Filed: |
October 9, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/14; 345/34;
348/563; 348/731; 348/E7.063; 348/E7.075; 455/154.1; 455/154.2;
725/18; 725/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H
60/43 (20130101); H04N 7/165 (20130101); H04N
7/17354 (20130101); H04N 21/235 (20130101); H04N
21/25891 (20130101); H04N 21/435 (20130101); H04N
21/44222 (20130101); H04N 21/6582 (20130101); H04N
21/812 (20130101); H04N 21/8352 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/16 (20060101); H04N 7/173 (20060101); H04N
007/16 (); H04N 005/445 (); H04N 005/50 (); G09G
003/04 (); H04B 001/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;725/14-20
;345/51-52,33-34,43-46 ;455/2.01,154.1,154.2,155.1,157.1,157.2
;348/731,563-564,569-570 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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Jul 1998 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Faile; Andrew
Assistant Examiner: Huynh; Son P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodcock Washburn LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display interface device for use in determining a currently
tuned-to channel of a set-top converter box having an electronic
display, said electronic display indicating said currently tuned-to
channel in response to drive signals provided thereto by said
set-top converter device, said display interface device comprising:
an electrical connection to said electronic display, said
electrical connection being adapted to communicate said drive
signals; a controller, said controller being connected to said
electronic display by said electrical connection and receiving said
drive signals transmitted to said electronic display, wherein said
controller receives and interprets said drive signals to generate
information representative of said currently tuned-to tuned
channel.
2. The display interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said
electronic display comprises at least one display element, and
wherein said display element is adapted to display an alphanumeric
character representation of said currently tuned-to channel of said
set-top converter box.
3. The display as recited in claim 2, wherein said drive signals
are provided to plural display elements in said electronic display
using a multiplexing scheme in order to display each alphanumeric
character of said currently tuned-to channel, and wherein said
drive signals are input to said controller and sampled to determine
said currently tuned-to channel.
4. The display interface as recited in claim 3, wherein said drive
signals comprise scan signals provided over scan lines that
selectively enable one display element in said electronic display
and segment signals provided over segment lines that drive each
segment of said display element, wherein said scan lines and said
segments lines are input to predetermined pins of an input/output
port of said controller in order to determine said currently
tuned-to channel.
5. The display interface as recited in claim 4, wherein said
information representative of said tuned channel comprises an ASCII
value representative of said currently tuned-to channel, and
wherein said controller outputs said ASCII value to a collection
meter connected to said display interface via a second electrical
connection.
6. The display interface as recited in claim 5, wherein said
collection meter comprises an audio matching circuit, said audio
matching circuit comparing a first audio signal of a predetermined
channel tuned by said collection meter with a second audio signal
output by a television to which said set-top converter is
connected, wherein if said first audio signal and said second audio
signal match, said collection meter determines that said channel
which said set-top converter box is displaying is said
predetermined channel.
7. The display interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said
information representative of said tuned channel is output to a
second device connected to said display interface via a second
electrical connection, and wherein said second device receives and
further processes said information representative of said currently
tuned-to channel.
8. The display interface as recited in claim 7, wherein said second
device comprises a collection meter, and wherein said collection
meter stores said information representative of said currently
tuned-to channel and forwards it to a predetermined location at
selected times.
9. The display interface as recited in claim 8, wherein said
information representative of said tuned channel comprises an ASCII
value representative of said currently tuned-to channel, and
wherein said controller outputs said ASCII value to said collection
meter via said second electrical connection.
10. The display interface as recited in claim 7, wherein said
display interface board is adapted to receive power and additional
data via said second electrical connection.
11. A system for determining viewership of channels tunable by a
set-top converter box having an electronic display, said system
comprising: a display interface device connected to said electronic
display; and a collection meter connected to said display
interface, said collection meter periodically storing a channel to
which said set-top converter is tuned, wherein said channel to
which said set-top converter is tuned is determined by said display
interface by receiving and interpreting drive signals transmitted
to said electronic display of said set-top converter and
communicated to said collection meter, and wherein said collection
meter stores said channel and forwards it to a predetermined
location at selected times.
12. The system for determining viewership of channels tunable by a
set-top converter box as recited in claim 11, wherein said
collection meter further comprises an audio matching circuit, said
audio matching circuit comparing a first audio signal of a
predetermined channel tuned by said collection meter with a second
audio signal output by a television to which said set-top converter
is connected, wherein if said first audio signal and said second
audio signal match, said collection meter determines that said
channel which said set-top converter box is displaying is said
predetermined channel.
13. The display interface as recited in claim 11, wherein said
electronic display comprises at least one display element, and
wherein said display element is adapted to display an alphanumeric
character representation of said currently tuned-to channel of said
set-top converter box.
14. The display interface as recited in claim 13, said display
interface comprising a controller, wherein said drive signals are
provided to plural display elements in said electronic display
using a multiplexing scheme in order to display each alphanumeric
character of said currently tuned-to channel, and wherein said
drive signals are input to said controller and sampled to determine
said currently tuned-to channel.
15. The display interface as recited in claim 14, wherein said
drive signals comprise scan signals provided over scan lines that
selectively enable one display element in said electronic display
and segment signals provided over segment lines that drive each
segment of said display element, wherein said scan lines and said
segments lines are input to predetermined pins of an input/output
port of said controller in order to determine said currently
tuned-to channel.
16. A method of determining a channel to which a set-top converter
box is tuned using a display interface, said set-top converter
comprising an electronic display that is driven by drive signals,
said method comprising: receiving drive signals at said display
interface; determining a channel to which said set-top converter
box is tuned by sampling said drive signals; generating a coded
representation of said determined channel; and outputting said
coded representation.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said electronic
display comprises at least one display element, and said drive
signals comprise scan signals provided over scan lines that enable
each display element and segment signals provided over segment
lines that drive each segment of said display element, said step of
determining a channel to which said set-top converter box is tuned
further comprising: (a) determining if a scan line for said display
element is active; (b) if said scan line is active at step (a),
then determining which of said segment lines are active to
determine character being displayed by said display element; and
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each display element in said
electronic display.
18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step of
generating a coded representation of said determined channel
comprises generating an ASCII value of said channel to which said
set-top converter box is tuned.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said step of
outputting said coded representation comprises serially
transmitting said ASCII value to a collection meter.
20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising: storing,
at said collection meter, said ASCII value; and forwarding said
ASCII value at predetermined times to a central collection site.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for monitoring usage of
audiovisual equipment. In particular, the present invention relates
to a device for interfacing with set-top converter boxes to
determine a channel being watched by a television viewer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Determining a number of viewers watching a particular television
program is of great importance to television networks, stations,
programmers and advertisers. Information regarding the number of
viewers is used to determine market share and the ratings of
particular programs. This information is additionally used to
determine advertising rates, which in turn affects the revenue
generated by the television networks and stations.
There are numerous systems known in the art that attempt to monitor
the viewing habit of television watchers. Early attempts at
monitoring were fairly simple and unsophisticated, and generally
required viewers to maintain a diary of programs watched. As the
viewers began and finished watching a particular channel or
program, they entered a start and end time in to the diary. The
viewers periodically mailed the diaries to a central collection
location, which then processed the diaries. The disadvantages of
such a system are many, including: failure to enter information
into the diaries, inaccurate entries into the diaries, and delays
in processing. Further, as the number of channels provided to
households has increased dramatically, it has become increasingly
difficult for viewers to accurately track their viewing habits.
Later attempts have become more sophisticated and efficient by
automating portions of the data collection process and the
determination of the channel currently being viewed. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,685, to Roberts et al., discloses a television
monitoring system having a channel detection unit, a people
monitoring unit, a transmission unit, and a receiving unit. The
channel detection unit detects ultra or very high frequency
radiation emitted from a television tuner to determine if the
channel being tuned is one of the channels which have been preset
into the detection unit. The detection is performed by a pickup
probe that inductively couples the signal emitted from the local
oscillator of the television receiver. The people monitor unit is a
powered handset that includes buttons assigned to each of the
individuals who will be viewing the television set. The viewer
depresses his or her assigned button to indicate he or she has
started to watch the television. The viewing data is stored and
transmitted by the transmission unit over household wiring to the
receiving unit. The receiving unit sends the collected information
to a central computer via a telephone connection. While this system
speeds the data transmission process to the central computer as
compared to mailing diaries to a processing center, there are
several disadvantages in this system. For example, those of skill
in the art will recognize that the location of the pick-up probe
will greatly affect the sensitivity and accuracy of the channel
detection unit. Further, as each viewer must manually depress a
button on the people monitor, it is subject to the same
inaccuracies of the diary method noted above, i.e., the failure of
viewers to record the television channels actually watched.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,079, to Tuner et al., describes networked
conventional audio and visual equipment that communicate via
telephone lines with a remote central computer. The viewer provides
channel selection commands or other programming commands to a
microprocessor through an infrared remote control. A VCR tuner and
TV tuner within the system provide audio and video signals for the
conventional television monitor or television receiver. An AM and
FM radio tuner may also be included, tunable by the microprocessor.
In the Tuner et al. system, the video and/or audio signals from
each tuner, video tape player, and disc players are coupled to the
input side of an audio switch and a video switch. The switches are
microprocessor controlled so that the audio and video program from
any source may be coupled to any output or display device at the
viewing location. The system includes a motion detector to
determine the presence of viewers and provides for communication
with a remote computer to monitor use of each networked audiovisual
unit. While this system provides for monitoring and logging of each
networked audiovisual unit, the Tuner et al. system is designed to
control a large home-entertainment system, rather than a
small-scale solution to monitoring viewers' habits. In particular,
the Turner et al. system is indicated to cost a few hundred
dollars, and would fail to provide a solution to television
networks and advertisers who are interested in obtaining accurate
viewing statistics by deploying systems to a relatively large
number of viewers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,552, to Allison, III, et al., describes a
system that collects television channel tuning data that transmits
the data to a central site in a transparent manner to the occupants
of the household. The system is designed having a hub and spoke
architecture, where the hub unit communicates with metering devices
attached to television receivers and/or cable television
converters. The meters are periodically polled by the hub, which
then collects the data acquired by each meter. The hub communicates
with a host computer via standard telephone lines. The Allison,
III, et al. system particularly describes the central hub device
and gathering data before transmitting it to the central site.
However, the Allison, III et al. system fails to provide an
improved metering unit by contemplating the use of known channel
meters.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,951, to Welsh, discloses a system for
monitoring and recording data related to television program viewing
habits that includes a plurality of remote program monitor units
that automatically report such data to a central computer via a
conventional telephone network. The monitor unit reads a character
string that is decoded from the demodulated television signal
received by the unit. The character string is compared to a string
table stored within the unit to determine the content being viewed
by the television watcher. If there is a match, an event code and a
time are stored in the unit for reporting to the central computer.
However, for the system to operate, the character string must be
encoded into the received television signal, otherwise there will
be no match with the string table stored in memory. Further, the
string table must be kept current for the system to provide
accurate results.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,970, to Kiefl, describes a system for
monitoring and collecting data on the viewing habits of television
viewers that includes a portable personal data collection device
that is separate from the television or set-top converter. The
personal data collection devices includes a detector for providing
a station identifier identifying the particular broadcast signal
being received by the receiver, a clock for providing a signal
representing time, a memory for storing data, and a cellular
telephone module for communicating with a central location. The
cellular telephone module periodically transmits stored data within
the device to the central location. The viewer may enter channel
information directly into the device, or the device may include a
detector for detecting a channel selection signal from a television
remote control to change the station identifier stored in memory.
While this is an improvement over diaries, this system requires a
personal data collection device for each individual watching a
particular television set. Further, because the device is
physically separate from the television set, the data collected may
not be accurate as viewers may either fail to enter channel
information or the device may not detect an infrared transmission
from the television remote control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,282, to Mostafa, et al., discloses a
tuning/monitoring module for monitoring use of a video equipment
without the use of probes by injecting RF signals into a cable
converter and a VCR in order to detect channels selected by the
cable converter and the VCR. In accordance with signals received
from the cable converter and the VCR, the tuning/monitoring module
can determine a selected channel being viewed by the viewers.
Channel identification signals are also injected into the VCR and
cable converter for recording by the VCR on videotape. The state of
the "TV/VCR" switch of the VCR is determined by injecting a code
signal into the VCR and determining whether that signal is present
in an RF video signal output by the VCR. The receiver also receives
data contained in channel identification signals. The receiver is
selectively connectable to the VCR and the cable converter.
However, this system requires the use of the special
tuning/monitoring module in place of a tuner provided with a
television or VCR in order to provided the injected signal to
determine the viewed channel. Such a special tuning/monitoring
module increases the expense associated with tracking viewers'
habits.
In view of the above, there is a need for an integrated solution to
detect the channels being watched by viewers. There is also a need
for a system that does not interfere with any of the consumer's
electronics, equipment or features. In particular, there is a need
for a system that provides channel information without requiring
addition steps to be taken by viewers, and that functions such that
the consumer's VCR, TV, remote controls are not tampered with or
opened and continue to operate normally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, the present invention, through one or more of
its various aspects and/or embodiments is thus presented to
accomplish one or more objects and advantages, such as those noted
below.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a display interface device for use in determining a currently
tuned-to channel of a set-top converter box having an electronic
display, where the electronic display indicates the currently
tuned-to channel in response to drive signals provided thereto by
the set-top converter device. The display interface device
comprises an electrical connection to the electronic display and a
controller that is connected to the electronic display by the
electrical connection. The controller receives the drive signals
transmitted to the electronic display by the set-top converter
device and interprets the drive signals to generate information
representative of the currently tuned-to tuned channel.
According to a feature of the present invention, the electronic
display comprises at least one seven-segment display element, and
the seven-segment display element is adapted to display an
alphanumeric character representation of the currently tuned-to
channel of the set-top converter box. The drive signals are
provided to plural seven-segment display elements in the electronic
display using a multiplexing scheme in order to display each
alphanumeric character of the currently tuned-to channel. Further,
the drive signals may comprise scan signals provided over scan
lines that selectively enable one seven-segment display element in
the electronic display and segment signals provided over segment
lines that drive each segment of the seven-segment display element.
The scan lines and the segments lines are input to predetermined
pins of an input/output port of the controller in order to
determine the currently tuned-to channel.
According to another feature, the information representative of the
tuned channel may be output to a second device connected to the
display interface via a second electrical connection. The second
device may stores receive and further process the information
representative of the currently tuned-to channel. In addition, the
display interface board may be adapted to receive power and
additional data via the second electrical connection.
According to yet another feature, the second device may comprise a
viewership collection meter and the information representative of
the tuned channel may be coded as an ASCII value representative of
the currently tuned-to channel and output to a viewership meter
connected to the display interface via a second electrical
connection. The viewership meter may also include an audio matching
circuit that compares a first audio signal of a predetermined
channel tuned by the viewership collection meter with a second
audio signal output by a television to which the set-top converter
is connected, wherein if the first audio signal and the second
audio signal match, the viewership collection meter determines that
the channel to which the set-top converter box is tuned is the
predetermined channel.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for determining viewership of channels tunable by
a set-top converter box having an electronic display. The system
comprises a display interface device connected to the electronic
display, and a viewership collection meter connected to the display
interface that periodically stores a channel to which the set-top
converter is tuned. The channel to which the set-top converter is
tuned is determined by the display interface and communicated to
the viewership collection meter, and the viewership collection
meter stores the channel and forwards it to a predetermined
location at selected times.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of determining a channel to which a set-top
converter box is tuned using a display interface where the set-top
converter comprises an electronic display that is driven by drive
signals. The method comprises receiving drive signals at the
display interface; determining a channel to which the set-top
converter box is tuned by sampling the drive signals; generating a
coded representation of the determined channel; and outputting the
coded representation.
According to a feature of the method, the electronic display
comprises at least one seven-segment display element, and the drive
signals comprise scan signals provided over scan lines that enable
each seven-segment display element and segment signals provided
over segment lines that drive each segment of the seven-segment
display element. The step of determining a channel to which the
set-top converter box is tuned further comprises (a) determining if
a scan line for the seven-segment display element is active; (b) if
the scan line is active at step (a), then determining which of the
segment lines are active to determine character being displayed by
the seven-segment display element; and (c) repeating steps (a) and
(b) for each seven-segment display element in the electronic
display.
According to another feature of the method the step of generating a
coded representation of the determined channel comprises generating
an ASCII value of the channel to which the set-top converter box is
tuned. Outputting the coded representation may comprise serially
transmitting the ASCII value to a viewership meter. The ASCII value
may be stored at the viewership meter and forwarded at
predetermined times to a central collection site.
Other features of the invention are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when
read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an
embodiment that is presently preferred, in which like references
numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of
the drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is
not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities
disclosed. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an overview of the environment in which the television
audience monitoring system of the present invention may be
implemented;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the interconnection of a
television signal converter box and display interface circuit;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of light
emitting diodes display of the television signal converter box and
the display interface circuit;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary collection meter in
accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating the steps and
processes performed by a microcontroller included with the display
interface circuit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting
the currently tuned-to channel of a subscriber's set-top converter
box having an electronic display that indicates the channel and
status. The information related to the detected channel may then be
forwarded to a data collection system within the subscriber's home
or other location for eventual transmission to a central data
collection and compilation site. Such information, taken from a
large sample size, may be used to measure network viewing and the
interactive environment.
In order to obtain accurate viewership data, it is preferable to
gather data from a large sample of subscriber homes within a cable
satellite system's broadcast base. The sample is typically derived
from demographic and lifestyle characteristics, shopping patterns,
and consumer profile of the subscribers' homes. Ideally, the sample
of homes from the entire system should represent the system as a
whole. To collect data, each of the homes to be sampled may be
supplied with a viewership meter (described below). The viewership
meter is preferably supplied by ADcom Information Services, Inc.,
Carlsbad, Calif., and is installed on each television in the
sampled homes. Such a meter is quickly and easily installed as
compared to other known meters and provides a complete record of
viewing in each participating household. When the quantitative
ratings from the viewership meters are compiled, the information
may be used by advertisers and network programmers to accurately
target audiences and determine ideal spot placement for
advertisements.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an overview of an
exemplary environment within which the present invention may be
embodied. As illustrated, signals from a satellite/cable system
provider are received via transmission lines 11 connected to one of
a satellite dish 13 or power poles 15. The satellite dish 13 may
receive signals from a plurality of earth orbiting satellites (not
shown), whereas the transmission lines 11 strung over power poles
15 (or buried underground) may be connected to a transmission site
(not shown). The transmission lines 11 enter the viewer's home or
other location and are typically connected to a wall plate 12
having a 75.OMEGA. co-axial connector.
To provide a signal to a viewer's television set 10, a first
75.OMEGA. co-axial cable 14 electrically connects the transmission
line 11, at the wall plate 12, to a first connection on, e.g., the
rear panel of a set-top converter box 16. A second 75.OMEGA.
co-axial cable 14 connects between a second connection on the rear
panel of the set-top converter 16 and to, e.g., a 75.OMEGA.
connector in a television set 10. The set-top converter box 16 is
used to selectively tune channels in accordance with a viewer
selection. Alternatively, a single 75.OMEGA. co-axial cable 14 may
be used to provide signals directly to the television set 10. Also
as shown, the television set includes an audio-out jack 10a.
The set-top converter 16 is connected to a viewership collection
meter 18 by wires or a cable 24. Alternatively, an electrical
connector or the like may be used in place of wires or cabling 24
to connect the viewership meter 18 and the set-top converter 16.
The viewership meter 18 is designed such that it may connect to any
television 10 or set-top converter 16. In accordance with an aspect
of the present invention, the collection meter 18 determines a
viewed channel by receiving channel-related information from a
display interface board 22 (described below with regard to FIGS. 2
and 3). The collection meter 18 may also use an audio matching
technique to log channel viewership throughout the day. The
collection meter 18 is preferably capable of recording the channel
location (i.e., the tuned channel) every five seconds, storing the
information and forwarding it to a central computer (not shown).
The data is forwarded by telephone or other means during time
periods when the transmission to the central site is unlikely to
interfere with the occupants' use of the transmission media. The
central computer collects the data from all viewership meters 18,
analyzes the information, combines the records with additional
qualitative data, and sends prepared reports to the system operator
as early as the next day. Preferably, hundreds, or even thousands
of viewership meters 18 may be managed from one central system.
Data and reports are received by the system operators via e.g., the
Internet and Frame Relay routers. System personnel can quickly
generate custom reports that show channel ratings by day, target
and network ranking.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated a display
interface board 22 of the present invention. The display interface
board 22 is preferably provided within the collection meter 18 and
includes a microcontroller U6, a connector J2, and a capacitor C1,
which is charged from a voltage source Vcc. The microcontroller U6
is preferably an 8-bit microcontroller having a Reduced Instruction
Set Computer (RISC) architecture and includes dedicated digital
input lines, digital output lines and an on-board programmable
memory. The microcontroller U6 receives channel data from the
set-top converter box 16, stores the data in an internal random
access memory (RAM) or other memory, and converts the data into an
ASCII channel value that is serially transmitted to the components
within collection meter 18 over line 20. Other data formats
compatible with the collection meter 18 may be used. The
microcontroller U6 may also provide capabilities such as a
real-time clock, a modem chip-set. Preferably, the microcontroller
U6 comprises a AT90S1200, manufactured by Atmel Corporation, San
Jose, Calif. Other similar microcontrollers may be used, as the
present invention is not limited to the above-noted
microcontroller.
As illustrated the interface board 22 is connected by wires 24 or
other means to each of one or more seven-segment light emitting
diode (LED) display elements 23a-c of the set-top converter box 16.
It is preferable that the LED display elements 23 are driven in a
multiplexed fashion and have a common cathode or common anode
design. It is noted that segments in LED displays 23 having the
multiplexed driving scheme are scanned and driven one at a time at
a scan rate of a few hundred Hertz. Further, although three LED
displays 23a-c are illustrated in the Figures, it is within the
scope of the present invention to include fewer or more LED
displays 23 or other displays capable of displaying alphanumeric
information. One end of the wires 24 is connect to respective leads
from jumper P2, which supplies drive signals to the LEDs of the
display elements 23. The other end of the wires 24 are connected to
appropriate port pins of the input/output (I/O) ports of the
microcontroller U6. At predetermined times, the port pins are
sampled, and based on the voltages present at the pins, the
microcontroller U6 determines and outputs the ASCII representation
of the channel value over the I/O port, which is connected to
connector J2. Additionally, other data and power may be transferred
between the display interface board 22 and external devices over
connector J2. It is noted that additional or fewer connectors may
be provided on the display interface 22. For example, a single
connector may be provided to provide all of the above-noted
features at a reduced cost.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the exemplary components within the
collection meter 18. The collection meter 18 generates "snapshots"
of selected channels on cable, satellite and standard air systems
and compiles information related to the snapshots. The information
may include the channel or channels viewed at a particular time or
on a particular day. The compiled information may be used to
generate viewership ratings and other research related services for
multi-channel subscriber television systems (e.g., cable television
and satellite television).
The collection meter 18 includes Audio interface circuits 32, a
communications module 26, a digital signal processor (DSP)
controller 27, a flash memory 28 to store parameters and
programming information for the DSP controller 27, a CODEC 29 to
provide for compression and decompression of data (e.g., audio or
video information) in accordance with predetermined mathematical
algorithms, a real time clock 30, and a power supply and voltage
supervisor 31. The DSP controller 27 may be programmed to provide
functionalities such as, tuning to cable channel frequencies,
detection of the state of the television (e.g., powered ON or OFF),
detection of the channel being viewed, communication to the
communications module 26, management of storage of snapshot
information (e.g., time stamp), reception and storage of
information related to a telephone number of a central collection
site and time for sending snapshot information to the central site,
dial-up capability to contact the central site and to upload the
snapshot information, and a capability to receive time and reset
the onboard teal time clock during the upload. Additional features
and functionalities may be provided as user requirements change by
reprogramming the DSP controller 27. As illustrated, the DSP
controller 27 receives information over line 20 from the display
interface board 22 (from connection J2).
The dial-up capability is preferably programmed in firmware within
the DSP controller 27 and is preferably not programmable by
end-users (e.g., viewers). To performed the dial-up function, the
communications module 27, which is connected to the customer's
telephone line, is taken off-hook in accordance with the V.22
protocol at predetermined times and dual-tone multi-frequency
(DTMF) signals are transmitted to call the central collection site.
The telephone number of the central collection site is preferably
coded into the firmware and may be changed by the central site
during data communications. Using the V.22 protocol, the
communications module 27 transmits signals representative of the
data collected by the collection meter 18 to the central site. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the communications module 27 may comprise a
MODEM.
The power supply 31 regulates the voltage to the communications
module 27 and the Audio interface circuits 32. The power supply 31
receives, for example, 12VAC and may provide, .+-.5V and .+-.12V DC
to the modules 27 and 32. The voltage supervisor portion monitors
the .+-.5V and .+-.12V and resets the DSP controller 26 and the
flash memory 28 if the supplied voltage drops below these values.
The total power consumption is preferably less than 5 Watts.
The Audio interface circuits 32 include an RF amplifier 33, a mixer
34, an FM demodulator 35, a low-pass filter 36, audio comparator
37, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 38, and a frequency
synthesizer 39. The broad-band cable signal to the television set
enters through a coaxial cable 14 coupled to the Audio interface
circuits 32. The audio sub-carrier of a particular cable channel is
coupled to the low pass filter 36 and the RF amplifier 33 by a
low-loss coupler. The signal is converted to a predetermined
frequency (e.g., 3.25 MHz) by the mixer 34, the local oscillator 38
and the frequency synthesizer 39, which is controlled by the DSP
controller 27. The predetermined frequency is demodulated by the FM
demodulator 35 so the audio program for a tuned channel may be
recovered. The audio signal from the television set 10 is obtained
from an audio pick-up device (not shown) or from the audio jack lOa
in the television set 10. The audio pick-up device is coupled to
the television set 10 to detect the audio signal broadcast. The
audio signal is fed to the RF amplifier 33 and then into an audio
comparator 37. The recovered audio from the FM demodulator 35 is
also fed into the audio comparator 37 and compared with the
television audio signal. If the audio frequencies match, then a
logic high signal is sent by the audio comparator 37 to the DSP
controller 27. If there is not a match between the recovered audio
from the FM demodulator 35 and the television audio, then the DSP
controller 27 tunes the frequency synthesizer 39 to the next
channel and continues until a match is found. The collection meter
18 may be enclosed in an assembly (not shown) that includes
internal-metalized plastic covers. The Audio interface circuits 32
may be mounted on the bottom cover and the communication module 27
mounted up-side-down on the top of the Audio interface circuits 32.
The display interface circuits 22 may be mounted on the top cover.
The assembly may include the following interfaces: a 75.OMEGA.
cable in (54 MHz to 1 GHz, -16 dBmV to +10 dBmV), a power adapter
in (12 VAC, <420 mA), audio in (1V.sub.p-p, 100 Hz to 5 kHz,
>1 k.OMEGA. impedance), a magnetic sensor in (5 mV.sub.p-p, 100
Hz to 5 kHz, 1 k.OMEGA. impedance), a POTS In/Out (RJ-11, meets FCC
Part 68 requirements), and a power/mode indicator (green LED).
The various components and specifications noted-above with regard
to the collection meter 18 have been provided herein for exemplary
purposes only. Other components and different specifications are
intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For
example, the collection meter 18 may include a microprocessor or
microcontroller and associated circuitry to perform the various
functions of the DSP controller 27. Further, additional or fewer
communications interfaces may be provided (e.g., power line data
communication, RF data communication, or digital telephony).
FIG. 5 is a exemplary flowchart of the sequence of operations
performed by the microcontroller U6 in accordance with an aspect of
the invention. At step 100 the variables, data space and serial
ports are initialized. At step 102, the microcontroller I/O ports
are initialized and set. In the Atmel AT90S1200, two I/O ports are
provided (Port B and Port D) having 8 and 7-bit widths. As noted in
step 102 and illustrated in FIG. 3, bits 3-5 of Port D are set to
receive the SCAN lines of the LED display 23 and bits 1-7 of Port B
are set to receive the segment lines of the LED display 23. Bit 0
of Port B and bit 6 of Port D are set to output serial data to
connector J2. Steps 100 and 102 are typically executed at power-up
or during a reset operation.
At step 104 it is determined if scan line 1 (PD3) is active. If not
the process loops back to step 104 to later determine if scan line
1 is active. If scan line 1 is active, then at step 106, the data
segment for character 1 (i.e., the first LED display 23a) is
captured and stored in memory in the microcontroller U6.
At step 108 it is determined if scan line 2 (PD4) is active. If not
the process loops back to step 108 to later determine if scan line
2 is active. If scan line 2 is active, then at step 110, the data
segment for character 2 (i.e., the second LED display 23b) is
captured and stored in memory in the microcontroller U6.
At step 112 it is determined if scan line 3 (PD5) is active. If not
the process loops back to step 112 to later determine if scan line
3 is active. If scan line 3 is active, then at step 114, the data
segment for character 3 (i.e., the third LED display 23c) is
captured and stored in memory in the microcontroller U6.
At step 116 the channel information captured at steps 106, 110 and
114 is converted into ASCII and serially transmitted to the
collection meter 18 at a predetermined data rate. After the
transmission is complete at step 118, the process returns to step
104.
As described above, the present invention provides for a novel
apparatus and method for capturing information related to the
channel to which a set-top converter box is tuned and for
converting the information into data having a format compatible
with a viewership data collection meter.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely
for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as
limiting of the present invention. While the invention has been
described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood
that the words which have been used herein are words of description
and illustration, rather than words of limitations. Further,
although the invention has been described herein with reference to
particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not
intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather,
the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures,
methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended
claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the
teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications
thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention in its aspects.
For example, the set-top converter box 16 may be modified to
include the components of the collection meter 18, such that a
single set-top device performs the functions of both devices.
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